Worst losses in UConn history?

[alexrgct]

Always a fun, cathartic topic. Everyone has different criteria. Mine have to do with the sting of the loss at the time, way the loss occurred, and the tangible impact to the team/season.

Top 5 for me

1. Notre Dame 2011, national semis


The 2010-11 team had two fundamental truths: a) it had a transcendent player and an extremely impressive body of work throughout the regular season and BET (indeed, at the season's conclusion, UConn was BY FAR the #1 ranked team by Sagarin despite the season-ending loss), but b) it was vulnerable in terms of depth and experience. The former truth made a national championship a possibility, and the latter made me root that much harder for the team. That team killed itself to get to the national semis, and stepped on court knowing the team it matched up with the most poorly, Stanford, had just been defeated in shocking fashion. UConn led by six at the half, only to fall to a team it had already beaten three times.

I will go to my grave convinced UConn would have dispatched A&M.

2. Tennessee 1997, regional finals

Throughout the regular season, no team got within single digits of UConn. A national championship seemed probable. And then, in the opening round of the NCAA Tourney, freshman Shea Ralph tore her ACL. The team reacted poorly, and Geno let it happen (he admits this in hindsight- it was his first significant injury he had to deal with on a contender). UConn looked fine in its second round game, but had a surpsingly close five-point win over Illinois in the round of 16. Its regional final opponent was surging archrival Tennessee, a team UConn beat by 15 during the regular season but got well at the right time. UConn gave up 91 points in NPOY Kara Wolters's final game in a UConn uni. This loss sucked.

3. Iowa State, 1999 Round of 16

Really, the only total WTF loss UConn has suffered in the NCAAs since it became a powerhouse. #1 seed UConn squeaked by against #8 Xavier in the second round, only to fall by six to an ISU team that was summarily dismissed by #3 seed Georgia in the regional finals. How soft was the field in 1999? Well, after favorites Tennessee fell in the regional finals, the championship was so wide open that a team coached by Carolyn Peck won it all. Talk about a missed opportunity.

4. LSU, 2007 regional finals

After squeaking by LSU in the regular season, Sylvia Fowles and the Lady Tigers opened up a gigantic can of whoop-ass on UConn in the Elite Eight. Not only was it a tough loss to swallow in terms of margin of victory (73-50), but it was unclear how UConn as it was currently composed would rebound the following season. Had to hope that incoming freshman Maya Moore was as good as advertised.

5. Notre Dame, 2001 national semis

The sting of this loss by itself? Significant! In the context of being surrounded by four NCs? Markedly less so, hence it being "only" #5 on my list. The 2000-01 season has been recounted ad nauseum. Defending national champs, every key player back and a year older, #1 high school player in the country coming in, apparent slam dunk for a NC. Things don't totally come together chemistry wise (three eras colloding: Shea/Svet, TASS, D), Svet gets injured, things start to come together post-Svet, Shea injured in the Bird at the Buzzer game, TASS+D lineup doesn't have enough time to gel and defeat a very experienced ND team with NPOY Ruth Riley. The same starting lineup would wreak utter havoc on WCBB the following season.

What are your worst losses?

 

[UConnCat]

Good list. I would add the Duke game in the 2003-2004 season, mostly because the way the game was lost. It was stunning to watch a team with Diana and Maria lose its composure that way and essentially hand the game over to Duke. The team ultimately won the Nat'l Championship which made the loss hurt a lot less, but still that was a painful loss at the time. It also didn't help that we had to watch highlights of Jess Foley's game-winning shot every time Duke played on TV for the next 2 years (as if the win gave Duke a Nat'l Championship).

 

[CCinCT]

Don't forget the Elite Eight 2006 loss to "The Dynasty" in OT. Maryland eventually went on to win the title.

 

[doggydaddy]

The NEXT one. I hate these threads.

 

[alexrgct]

Nah. If it happens this season, UConn wasn't favored to win anyway, so unless it was just an awful way to lose (buzzer beater in the NC game, for instance), I don't think I'll lose too much sleep over it. And if it didn't happen until next season, UConn would have won an unexpected NC this season, so that would ease the smart, and so on.

 

[DobbsRover2]

Losses? I don't remember any losses, as I have a Men in Black mind wipe tools for those unfortunate times.

In addition to the ones mentioned, the loss that was really a dagger to me was the one at UTenn in January 2001 because it also included the loss of Sveta Abrosimova. That was a real sick point, and followed up by Shea Ralph's later on was the start of a nasty run of bad luck for a team that might have exploded in the tourney at full strength.

 

[doggydaddy]

Nah. If it happens this season, UConn wasn't favored to win anyway, so unless it was just an awful way to lose (buzzer beater in the NC game, for instance), I don't think I'll lose too much sleep over it. And if it didn't happen until next season, UConn would have won an unexpected NC this season, so that would ease the smart, and so on.

I'll lose more sleep (not much) over the next loss than any other loss in Uconn history. Even last years loss. Over. Done.

 

[ASweet3781]

The only 3 that really really sucked were

1. 2001 Notre Dame....we had a 15 pt lead and lost by 16...not everyday a UConn team allows a 30 point swing in a game..ND had our number that year...we couldn't guard them...on paper we had our most talented roster. And of course the What If game in what if Shea and Svet didn't both get hurt.

2. 2011 Notre Dame...a loss you could see coming but still stings...Maya's last game..she deserved to leave a champion but she did not have enough help around her...Geno did a good job with only 6 players...like you I felt we could handle A&M better than ND.

3. 1997 Tennessee...undefeated and lose to your arch rival in round of 8..team didn't handle losing Shea well. Tennessee was no 3 seed with Kelly Jolly back.

These were the 3 years I felt we really could have won a title but didn't.

Honorable mentions

1. 1994 UNC- We opened up a 7 pt lead early in the 2nd half...UNC was loaded with athetes (Marion Jones, Charlotte Smith, Tonya Sampson) and we kinda looked like Gonzaga in comparison. Despite that we were giving them all they could handle...we were the victims of some atocious calls by the refs in that game..that was back when there were only 2 refs...one sequence we were down 5 and Carla Berube gets hacked across the arm for an obvious foul that was not called...before UConn inbounds the ball next play the refs call Berube for "pushing off" when she barely touched the player...and of course the refs missed Sampson throwin an intention elbow into Jen Rizzoti's stomach. It was my first introduction to WCBB officiating, which to this day can drive you crazy if you let it.

2. 1998 NC State- Without Nykesha Sales who we lost to a season ending injury we built a 10 pt 2nd half lead....than we let it all slip away...if we have Nykesha we make the Final 4 that year.

3. 1999 Iowa State- Bad chemistry and bad PG play led to this WTF loss.

4. 2006 Duke- #1 Duke literally begged us to take this game from them but we just didn't have the offense to do it. Only postseason loss in our home state and came 2 days after the men blew it to George Mason also by 2 pts in overtime so it sucked. You will never get a better Final 4 location for UConn fans than Boston and it sucked not getting there even with this flawed team.

5. 2008 Stanford- like the 2011 ND loss you could see it coming, We were very forutnate to make it past Rutgers the last round...even though we came in ranked #1, we were a year away...the other 3 Final 4 teams had 3 legends who were seniors- Parker, Fowles, Wiggins. It sucked because it deprived us of a Pat vs Geno final and we beat Stanford so easily earlier...not to mention losing Kalana and Mel.

2007 LSU, 2005 Stanford, and 1991 Virginia we just lost to better teams or teams that flat out beat us. 1996 Tennessee was one of the best WCBB games I've ever seen. Some of the calls against us were sketchy but we showed great heart in this game coming back multiple times including Sales dagger 3 to send it to OT.

 

[speedoo]

The 1999 NCAA loss to Iowa State was not that much of a WTF loss to me. That UConn team had no point guard after Sue Bird's ACL injury after about ten games. It was a very talented young team with the fabulous frosh up front (Swin, Asjha, Tamika) and the great soph wings (Shea and Svet), but no real on court leadership and would have needed a great deal of luck to advance to the Final Four. The real WTF loss that year was Tennessee losing a regional final to Duke in Holdsclaw's senior year, playing a longside Catchings, Randall, etc.

What that UConn loss proved to me was that it is truly a guard's game.

"3. Iowa State, 1999 Round of 16

Really, the only total WTF loss UConn has suffered in the NCAAs since it became a powerhouse. #1 seed UConn squeaked by against #8 Xavier in the second round, only to fall by six to an ISU team that was summarily dismissed by #3 seed Georgia in the regional finals. How soft was the field in 1999? Well, after favorites Tennessee fell in the regional finals, the championship was so wide open that a team coached by Carolyn Peck won it all. Talk about a missed opportunity."

 

[JimGunther]

Hands down the Iowa loss.

Our entire team seemed out-of-sorts that night. Iowa didn't even play that well - We played worse.
One thing to lose a close, hard-fought game, the Iowa game was not one.

Still burns my throat after all these years.

 

[cferraro04]

Sorry, but the meltdown in 2003-2004 Duke game will always stay in my mind...that buzzer beater by Foley was a dagger to the heart.

 

[ASweet3781]

Sorry, but the meltdown in 2003-2004 Duke game will always stay in my mind...that buzzer beater by Foley was a dagger to the heart.

Perhaps that loss though helped the team learn how to handle their composure better when UCSB, Minnesota, and Tennessee all made runs at us in the NCAA tournament.

 

[triaddukefan]

Good list. I would add the Duke game in the 2003-2004 season, mostly because the way the game was lost. It also didn't help that we had to watch highlights of Jess Foley's game-winning shot every time Duke played on TV for the next 2 years (as if the win gave Duke a Nat'l Championship).

I actually didnt even get to see that game. The CBS affiliate down here (which is also the Raycom ACC Network affiliate) showed the Wake Forest - New Mexico Men's game instead. I went to a sports bar to see if I could catch it... and they didnt have it available..... so i had to just watch the highlights of it on the news that evening.

Don't forget the Elite Eight 2006 loss to "The Dynasty" in OT.

 

[Kait14]

Good list. I would add the Duke game in the 2003-2004 season, mostly because the way the game was lost. It was stunning to watch a team with Diana and Maria lose its composure that way and essentially hand the game over to Duke. The team ultimately won the Nat'l Championship which made the loss hurt a lot less, but still that was a painful loss at the time. It also didn't help that we had to watch highlights of Jess Foley's game-winning shot every time Duke played on TV for the next 2 years (as if the win gave Duke a Nat'l Championship).

Does anyone have this game anywhere? I was at it and remember it like it was yesterday and have been wanting to rewatch it

 

[Kait14]

Always a fun, cathartic topic. Everyone has different criteria. Mine have to do with the sting of the loss at the time, way the loss occurred, and the tangible impact to the team/season.

Top 5 for me

1. Notre Dame 2011, national semis


The 2010-11 team had two fundamental truths: a) it had a transcendent player and an extremely impressive body of work throughout the regular season and BET (indeed, at the season's conclusion, UConn was BY FAR the #1 ranked team by Sagarin despite the season-ending loss), but b) it was vulnerable in terms of depth and experience. The former truth made a national championship a possibility, and the latter made me root that much harder for the team. That team killed itself to get to the national semis, and stepped on court knowing the team it matched up with the most poorly, Stanford, had just been defeated in shocking fashion. UConn led by six at the half, only to fall to a team it had already beaten three times.

I will go to my grave convinced UConn would have dispatched A&M.

2. Tennessee 1997, regional finals

Throughout the regular season, no team got within single digits of UConn. A national championship seemed probable. And then, in the opening round of the NCAA Tourney, freshman Shea Ralph tore her ACL. The team reacted poorly, and Geno let it happen (he admits this in hindsight- it was his first significant injury he had to deal with on a contender). UConn looked fine in its second round game, but had a surpsingly close five-point win over Illinois in the round of 16. Its regional final opponent was surging archrival Tennessee, a team UConn beat by 15 during the regular season but got well at the right time. UConn gave up 91 points in NPOY Kara Wolters's final game in a UConn uni. This loss sucked.

3. Iowa State, 1999 Round of 16

Really, the only total WTF loss UConn has suffered in the NCAAs since it became a powerhouse. #1 seed UConn squeaked by against #8 Xavier in the second round, only to fall by six to an ISU team that was summarily dismissed by #3 seed Georgia in the regional finals. How soft was the field in 1999? Well, after favorites Tennessee fell in the regional finals, the championship was so wide open that a team coached by Carolyn Peck won it all. Talk about a missed opportunity.

4. LSU, 2007 regional finals

After squeaking by LSU in the regular season, Sylvia Fowles and the Lady Tigers opened up a gigantic can of whoop-ass on UConn in the Elite Eight. Not only was it a tough loss to swallow in terms of margin of victory (73-50), but it was unclear how UConn as it was currently composed would rebound the following season. Had to hope that incoming freshman Maya Moore was as good as advertised.

5. Notre Dame, 2001 national semis

The sting of this loss by itself? Significant! In the context of being surrounded by four NCs? Markedly less so, hence it being "only" #5 on my list. The 2000-01 season has been recounted ad nauseum. Defending national champs, every key player back and a year older, #1 high school player in the country coming in, apparent slam dunk for a NC. Things don't totally come together chemistry wise (three eras colloding: Shea/Svet, TASS, D), Svet gets injured, things start to come together post-Svet, Shea injured in the Bird at the Buzzer game, TASS+D lineup doesn't have enough time to gel and defeat a very experienced ND team with NPOY Ruth Riley. The same starting lineup would wreak utter havoc on WCBB the following season.

What are your worst losses?

That 2001 loss was so terrible for me lol.. I was 12 and cried for days hahaha

 

[triaddukefan]

I remember the Iowa State loss of 1999. If memory serves correctly.... I was at the Greensboro Coliseum at the East Regionals.. and they announced the score over the PA system..... I was like

 

[HuskyNan]

The Iowa State game is the worst loss, to me. I also hate the spanking delivered by North Carolina in Hartford in 2006. I was at the Civic Center for that game and if I had had a paper bag with me, I would have put it over my head.

 

[rocky rococo]

The total meltdown against Duke and the blowout by Ivory Latta. And whatever the next one is.

 

[ctfjr]

Always a fun, cathartic topic. Everyone has different criteria. Mine have to do with the sting of the loss at the time, way the loss occurred, and the tangible impact to the team/season.

Top 5 for me

. . .

5. Notre Dame, 2001 national semis

The sting of this loss by itself? Significant! In the context of being surrounded by four NCs? Markedly less so, hence it being "only" #5 on my list. The 2000-01 season has been recounted ad nauseum. Defending national champs, every key player back and a year older, #1 high school player in the country coming in, apparent slam dunk for a NC. Things don't totally come together chemistry wise (three eras colloding: Shea/Svet, TASS, D), Svet gets injured, things start to come together post-Svet, Shea injured in the Bird at the Buzzer game, TASS+D lineup doesn't have enough time to gel and defeat a very experienced ND team with NPOY Ruth Riley. The same starting lineup would wreak utter havoc on WCBB the following season.

What are your worst losses?

I hate when I'm reminded of this loss. Not only was I in St Louis for the final four but my seats for the semis were in ND land. Although I was cheering for UConn during the game it wasn't until the end that the 'ever faithful' green started to really dump some abuse on me

My parting remark to the crowd was, " We'll be back next year and you won't".

I hate that friggin leprechaun!

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

The total meltdown against Duke and the blowout by Ivory Latta. And whatever the next one is.

Well, since Geno thinks you are not going to lose for the next two years, you will not have to think about this for some time...

 

[mr006]

1999 Iowa State game - first UC WBB game I watched on TV, but even then, I knew something wasn't right.
ND in 2001 semis - but what can you do...
Duke game in 2004 - the Dirty Uniforms game?

Nowadays, hard to imagine UConn and Tenn ever in the same region...

 

[UConnCat]

Well, since Geno thinks you are not going to lose for the next two years, you will not have to think about this for some time...

Geno said beginning next year, not including this year. So there's still reason to worry...

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

Geno said beginning next year, not including this year. So there's still reason to worry...

Oh, I know the context of the quote. Was just trying to be funny.

 

[UConnCat]

Oh, I know the context of the quote. Was just trying to be funny.

I knew that. I was poking fun at fans who react to UConn losses without regard to what are reasonable expectations for the team.

 

[justML]

Notre Dame, 2001 semis

Like a punch in the stomach. And that's just how it feels 11 years later.